Chevalier Theatre seeks facilities funding for emergency lighting and interior repaint; personnel line to move into facilities budget

The Chevalier Theatre’s staffing and capital needs were presented to the council: Facilities Director Paul Rigby said the theatre’s personnel line will be moved into the facilities budget for fiscal 2026 so that the employee is budgeted with other facility staff, and the theatre’s remaining operating funds come from special accounts.

Rigby described recent projects funded from special accounts — masonry repairs, new LED ceiling lighting and new exterior video signage — and identified two near‑term priorities: installing emergency lighting in the balcony area where current show lighting is insufficient, and seeking casino mitigation funding to repaint the theatre interior.

“The budget that's reflected shows the personnel budget for the Chevalier Theatre. What our plan is to actually move that personnel line item over to the facilities budget since, he's part of the facility staff,” Rigby said. He noted the department already installed emergency lighting strips on the main floor and now needs funding to address the second floor.

No public questions were raised at the hearing on the Chevalier budget and no formal action was taken.

Why it matters: Moving the personnel line into the facilities budget consolidates theater staffing within building operations; emergency lighting and potential repainting concern patron safety and asset preservation and may be funded by casino mitigation funds or other special accounts.

What’s next: Facilities will carry the personnel line in FY26; Rigby and staff will pursue funding for emergency lighting and repainting.